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Smalling’s comments came after Roy Hodgson presented him with the rare opportunity of playing in his favoured position in England’s final group game with Costa Rica.

The 101st edition of the Tour de France begins on July 5 in Leeds, passing through Rochdale before it finishes on the famous Champs-Élysées in Paris 22 days later after 3,664 kilometres of intense racing.

Naomi Broady, after her first round win over Hungary’s Timea Babos, savoured her experience on No. 1 Court though lasted only 59 minutes as former world number one Caroline Wozniacki progressed 6-3, 6-2.

David Platt, who as assistant manager has helped guide Manchester City to their first ever Premier League title and a second in three years last month, scored the winning goal in England’s 1-0 win over Belgium at Italia ’90.

The 23-year old raced home at the Manchester Aquatics Centre after claiming a winning points total of 879 in the women’s MC 100m-Freestyle final.

Manchester City’s Yaya Toure has claimed the club denied him compassionate leave to visit his dying brother – as rumours of a summer Etihad exit grow.

Ex-Manchester United striker Andrew Cole has backed claims that England players duck out of international duty, insisting that international football is ‘just a bonus’.

This year’s J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race might have been a very different affair to his last one, but there was no wiping the smile off Sir Ben Ainslie’s face.

British number five Smethurst wasn’t given much chance against big-serving American John Isner and the number nine seed boomed down 26 aces to Smethurst’s four in the 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 encounter.

British number five Samantha Murray, in only her second appearance at the All England Club, was never likely to progress against former champion Maria Sharapova though she made an impression in her 6-1 6-0 defeat.

Charlton has begun a personal crusade to fight the evil of landmines and has spoken in depth about some of the horrors that he encountered through seeing them up close.